title: 18F-fluoride PET/CT scan for quantification of bone metabolism in the inner ear in patients with otosclerosis--a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In otosclerosis, CT of the temporal bone is used to confirm the diagnosis. Whereas CT is a static diagnostic tool displaying the demineralization caused by otosclerosis, imaging of bone metabolism by (18)F-fluoride PET may provide quantitative information. This could be useful for prognosis and stratification of patients. The aim of this study was to assess (18)F-fluoride activity in patients with otosclerosis and to evaluate its use as a complementary diagnostic tool.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients with otosclerosis underwent a PET/CT scan. Audiometric data were collected. The severity of otosclerosis was assessed using a recognized radiological classification. The control group consisted of patients who had undergone (18)F-fluoride PET/CT scan for orthopedic purpose. Regions of interest were drawn on PET scans which corresponded to standardized anatomical sites as defined on CT, to measure bone metabolism using standardized uptake values (SUV(max) and SUV(mean)).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Group 1 consisted of 11 otosclerosis patients (16 eligible temporal bones) and group 2 consisted of 5 control patients (10 temporal bones). On PET scan, visual assessment of temporal bones with otosclerosis showed increased metabolic activity in the otic capsule in 11/16 cases. The SUV(max) in the entire otic capsule was significantly higher in otosclerosis patients compared to control subjects. Significant differences in SUV(mean) were found between otosclerosis and control subjects in the fenestral and saccule area. Moreover, metabolic activity in these regions significantly correlated with hearing loss and CT classification.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  (18)F-Fluoride PET scanning using SUV measurements has the potential to be a diagnostic tool in otosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands. J.Waterval@gmail.com
authors.forename: Jérôme J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Waterval
authors.forename: Maud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vallinga
authors.forename: Boudewijn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brans
authors.forename: Bjorn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Winkens
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Stokroos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D059925:Anatomic Landmarks; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064847:Multimodal Imaging; D010040:Otosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D005459:Fluorides